County cricket faces viability questions, warns report Sport Business County cricket faces “questions about its long-term viability” despite a looming £520m windfall from sales of stakes in the Hundred franchises, a new report has warned. The Leonard Curtis Cricket Finance Report, launched yesterday at the Oval, examines the financial health of domestic cricket in England and Wales. It found that central funding accounts for [...]
Exclusive: BBC makes late swoop for Open highlights deal Sport Business The BBC has secured a last-minute deal to show evening highlights of the Open Championship at Royal Portrush this week. The R&A has agreed a new three-year deal with the BBC for highlights in a contract that also covers the Women’s Open, starting with the 2025 edition at Royal Porthcawl at the end of the [...]
Brentford stake sale to value club at £400m Sport Business The owner of Premier League club Brentford could offload up to 25 per cent of his holding in the Bees today in a deal that could value the London club at £400m. The wealthy businessman who ran Belron, owners of Autoglass, Gary Lubner, and the Kingsman and Kick-Ass Hollywood film-maker Matthew Vaughn are expected to [...]
Manchester City to earn £1bn from new kit deal with Puma July 15, 2025 Manchester City are set to cash in on over £1bn from their new long-term kit deal with Puma, City AM understands. The German sportswear manufacturer first partnered with Manchester City in 2019 on a 10-year deal reportedly worth £650m across the decade. But this week’s renewal, which is understood to last for more than a [...]
Rory Fever set to double financial impact of Open at Portrush July 15, 2025 Rory Fever is expected to help double the financial impact of this week’s Open Championship at Royal Portrush compared to its last visit to Northern Ireland six years ago. The 2019 Open, won by Irishman Shane Lowry, produced £100m of economic benefit but improved transport links, more accommodation options, and home favourite Rory McIlroy’s return [...]
Why David Gower is selling his rare cricket memorabilia on eBay July 15, 2025 Former England cricket captain David Gower has eschewed fancy auction houses and instead plumped for eBay to sell off a stash of rare mementos from his legendary career. In among the usual second-hand shoes, garden furniture and iPhones, something peculiar and altogether more exotic is lurking on eBay. A bat from Botham’s Ashes, signed by [...]
Mansion House speech: Could Chancellor turbo-charge sport? July 15, 2025 Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Mansion House speech this evening could turbo-charge overseas investment into UK sport, say industry experts. The speech, in front of City grandees, is set to confirm a so-called government “concierge service” for wealthy investors aimed at providing advice on visas, regulation and other barriers to entry. The service could help overseas investment [...]
Exclusive: Wembley sales key to rugby league Ashes record crowd hopes July 14, 2025 Organisers of rugby league’s Ashes series are targeting a record-breaking opening Test at Wembley Stadium, 103 days out from kick-off. Rugby League Commercial, which is behind the first Test series against Australia in 20 years, is aiming to break records for Ashes attendances. Previous series were played between Australia and Great Britain, rather than England, [...]
Manchester United sued by former star for clinical negligence July 14, 2025 Manchester United are being sued for clinical negligence by their former player Axel Tuanzebe, two years after he left Old Trafford. Lawyers acting for Tuanzebe, 27, filed the claim, which makes reference to “medical advice”, last week, records show. The defender, who joined Premier League club Burnley from relegated Ipswich Town this month, spent more [...]
Grandson of Manchester United star charged with 354 football bet breaches July 14, 2025 The grandson of former Manchester United star Lou Macari has been charged with 354 alleged breaches of the Football Association’s betting rules. Notts County’s Lewis Macari, 23, is alleged to have breached FA Rule E1 (B) 354 times, which relates to placing bets on football matches. His over 300 charges are alleged to have occurred [...]